Casino error, or ...

So my new local establishment opened in the Spring with a very nice version of $1 9-7 Triple Double Bonus (9-6 for quarters). The dollar game thus paid over 99%... Best payable in town. Of course, things changed within several months, with the dollar game going to 9-6 and the lower denominations worse. A few weeks ago, the place converted about a third of the VP machines to progressive payouts. On one such bank of 4 machines, they captioned the bank up top as featuring TDB. The other games remained on these four machines as well. All of which leads to the current scenario.

I had not played at this particular bank of four until this weekend, and discovered something very unusual. The second machine in the bank is paying out at 9-7 for dimes... But dimes only! Quarters are still at 9-5 and dollars at 9-6. Quarters and above are progressive. The other three machines are paying 8-5 for dimes.

Here are my questions. First, mistake by the casino? Or... An intentional act to test the playing population's attention to the payable issue?

And, second.... Would you stop using your Player Card on the 9-7 dime machine while the unique condition remains in place?

It's probably an error, but it's still in their favor, and it's a quick enough fix, so why would they bother to go after the players?

It's not unusual for casinos to sprinkle better odds VP throughout the casino... what are you worried about? I have a feeling they'd switch it out eventually if it were a mistake and there's absolutely no way they're going to "punish" you for going after a good paytable.

It could be an error, but whatever. Using your card probably won't tip them off unless you constantly play it and no one else does. And even if that was the case, they still may not change it.

River City in STL had some penny poker machines that accrued tier points 5x faster than normal. It took months for them to "fix the glitch".

The best paying video poker machine at CET for quarters or lower on the Strip that I've found is at IP Las Vegas as of June 2012. It's is an All-Star Poker Machine that set Bonus Poker w/STP at 7/5 instead of 6/5 like all the other STP machines in the casino. I doubt that was intended either, especially since it's only for nickels/dimes/quarters.

And if this is the casino I think it is, I hope this paytable still exists when I show up there next. I can afford dimes! lol

Quote: ahiromu

It's not unusual for casinos to sprinkle better odds VP throughout the casino... what are you worried about? I have a feeling they'd switch it out eventually if it were a mistake and there's absolutely no way they're going to "punish" you for going after a good paytable.

My plan is to pay this machine extra visits over the next few weeks. Not worried about punishment, just curious whether casinos look for unusual play levels by individuals at single machines such that my card usage would effectively give away the possible programming error here.

Quote: tringlomane

And if this is the casino I think it is, I hope this paytable still exists when I show up there next. I can afford dimes! lol

Just PM me anytime if you want an update on playing conditions ... ;-)

Was playing at Main St 99.54 quarter JOB yesterday downtown Vegas.
The old slant tops by valet.
Everything is fine, get 4 spades to hold.
I hear a pop. I notice slant top I am playing on slightly cracked open. The top just barely shifted. Now my hold buttons dont work and have 4 to the flush.
So I hit change button on machine next to me.
Girl comes, notes how much I have on machine, takes my slot card out, puts in hers, opens and closes machine, puts my card back in and I am ready to go holding my 4 spades. I was worried I could not complete the hand. Was wondering, say I had 4 to a royal, machine goes down and they cant get it back up. I guess player screwed.

Quote: midwestgb

My plan is to pay this machine extra visits over the next few weeks. Not worried about punishment, just curious whether casinos look for unusual play levels by individuals at single machines such that my card usage would effectively give away the possible programming error here.

Plenty of people have "favorite machines" in a casino. The only time they'd look or care is if you hit their bottom line hard.

Quote: terapined

Was playing at Main St 99.54 quarter JOB yesterday downtown Vegas.
The old slant tops by valet.
Everything is fine, get 4 spades to hold.
I hear a pop. I notice slant top I am playing on slightly cracked open. The top just barely shifted. Now my hold buttons dont work and have 4 to the flush.
So I hit change button on machine next to me.
Girl comes, notes how much I have on machine, takes my slot card out, puts in hers, opens and closes machine, puts my card back in and I am ready to go holding my 4 spades. I was worried I could not complete the hand. Was wondering, say I had 4 to a royal, machine goes down and they cant get it back up. I guess player screwed.

As a last resort, yeah the player could be screwed. But if you are a faithful customer, you probably should complain for something worth about 100 credits "for the inconvenience" in that case. But the issue you experienced is pretty common for slantops. If you bang on it yourself, the machine can close enough to resume operation.

Last time this happened to me, it was on a double STP upright ( a newer unit sadly). I had 3 kings with a multiplier and it froze while drawing. The slot attendant came by, gave it a good kick and my hand finished unimproved. I teased him about kicking it at the wrong time. Lol

Delete

Quote: terapined

Was playing at Main St 99.54 quarter JOB yesterday downtown Vegas.
The old slant tops by valet.
Everything is fine, get 4 spades to hold.
I hear a pop. I notice slant top I am playing on slightly cracked open. The top just barely shifted. Now my hold buttons dont work and have 4 to the flush.
So I hit change button on machine next to me.
Girl comes, notes how much I have on machine, takes my slot card out, puts in hers, opens and closes machine, puts my card back in and I am ready to go holding my 4 spades. I was worried I could not complete the hand. Was wondering, say I had 4 to a royal, machine goes down and they cant get it back up. I guess player screwed.

Don't feel too bad. 4 to a flush only pays $4.11 per $5 bet. Sorry, now I'm seeing it pays 1.216 x your bet.

I've had cases where they changed paytables on dozens of machines and I would go though them afterwards to verify that they didn't miss a machine. And I've occasionally found a machine or two that they somehow missed.

Quote: mickeycrimm

I've occasionally found a machine or two that they somehow missed.

I've had better luck finding new machines that they haven't yet downgraded the paytables on.

With a little luck, I get a week or two on them before they catch on.

I miss that VBJ SD 3:2 S17 LS D10 game that honored free slot play.